50 Year Reunion
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Good luck to you Mike on your new Journey. Thanks for your service also.. Jack & Linda Strommen
Michael Patton Obituary
Mike's greatest love story began when he met Linda Lund. After five years of dating, they married in January 1968, and she remained the center of his universe for more than 60 years. He told her she was beautiful every single day.
Mike was a proud father and a devoted grandfather who never missed a chance to love his family. Through every up and down, he and his lifelong friends Jack and Monica Mueller could always count on one another.
Above all, he leaves behind his cherished wife, Linda, who held his heart from the very beginning. He is also survived by his sons, Aaron (Sarah) and Matthew (Carrie), and the five grandchildren who were the light of his life, Zoe, Steven, Stella, Zachary and Charlotte.
Per Mike's wishes, a private burial will be held at the Minnesota States Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Darelyn was friendly, positive, beautiful and really smart. She was easy to be friends with. The world has lost a good one.
Darelyn, hear my prayer to you.You were a wonderful friend a smile in those hallways. Jack
Sorry for you and your family, Duane was a quality kind of guy and I am sure he will be missed. Jack & Linda Strommen
Memorial Services celebrating the life More…
Duane was born on September 13, 1947 in Carrington, North Dakota to Peter and Ann (Seil) Grant. He attended St. Cloud Tech High School. On June 22, 2003 Duane married Barbara Emslander in St. Cloud. Duane worked several jobs throughout his life, most recently retiring as a supervisor at Fingerhut.
He enjoyed sports, especially football. He is very proud of his sports achievements at Tech High School where he earned letters in baseball, basketball and football. He held several records and was inducted into the St. Cloud Tech High School Hall of Fame in 1998. He graduated from the University of Iowa where he lettered in football in three seasons. He earned the Univ of Iowa Boosters Award and has always been a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Duane is survived by his loving wife, Barb.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his Stepmother June Grant.
Jay Loesch
ST. CLOUD - 1947 -
2025
A celebration of
Jay’s life will
be held this
coming Sat-
urday, June 13,
at the VFW East Side,
284 Franklin Avenue
NE, St. Cloud. Doors
open at 2 p.m. with taps
and memory sharing
scheduled for 3.30 p.m.
Bring a smile.
James Howard Wicktor, 78, of Sauk Rapids, MN, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on October 8th, 2025. Though frustrated by the debilitating and limiting disease of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, James fought to maintain his independence and abilities for as long as possible, despite being reliant on an oxygen concentrator in recent months. This disease was especially difficult for a man who spent a lifetime being so effortlessly and exceedingly capable.
James was born on New Year’s Day, 1947, to Howard and Lulu (Brown) Wicktor, in St. Cloud, MN. After having four daughters, Lulu called her only son, James, her “last effort.” James graduated from St. Cloud Technical High School in 1965. After meeting at church and attending school together, James and Carol Jean McSevany were married in 1968 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, MN. Apparently destined to be surrounded by women, James and Carol had two daughters, Melissa C. Hansen (Pierre J. Hansen) of Minneapolis, MN, and Emily D. Wicktor (J. Gregory Brister) of Moorhead, MN.
In 1966, James enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard, ultimately serving 22 years and earning the rank of E-8 Master Sergeant. In 1967, he began a 34-year career as a central office telephone equipment installer with Western Electric. After retirement, he began a second 22-year career working at the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex, maintaining the golf greens, athletic fields, and small machinery, as well as doing his favorite job: driving the Zamboni. He was a man of many projects, as he was always tinkering with something: an old trailer, a rusty Jeep, a pesky vintage Hamm’s beer sign, a chugging boat motor, a faulty lamp, or anything he simply wanted to understand, figure out, or fix. In most of these endeavors, he was successful, but some hopelessly broken things, like the unfortunate weed whacker he memorably flung into the cul-de-sac, remain evidence of his best, though failed, attempts at fixing everything. His moments of failure, however, were never a deterrent, as he lived by his motto to “Get tough,” especially in challenging times.
Always a talker and storyteller, James consistently started every tale with, “Well, to make a long story short,” but he never held himself to that expression. His long, lively stories were often peppered with something his family called “linguish,” which was a delightful confusion of a “language and English” purely of his own design. His sense of humor was unmatched, and he lived a life filled with genuine affection and deep laughter. He loved ice fishing, hunting, playing old-timer hockey as a goalie, winning at cribbage, being with his family at the cabin, and watching old episodes of Perry Mason and late-night TCM showings of classic westerns and film noir.
Most of all, though, he loved his family. Alongside his much-loved wife and best friend, Carol, he raised his adored daughters to be strong, generous, funny, and kind. As a proud grandfather, he lovingly championed his accomplished granddaughters, Isabel and Sophie. As a father-in-law to the two sons he gained, there was no one more welcoming and supportive than Big Jim. Words cannot effectively capture how deeply he will be missed by his family and loved ones who will forever feel the loss of his unique presence.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Lulu Wicktor, and his sisters, Jean, Carol, Marion, and Norma. He was also preceded in death by his beloved childhood dog, Brownie, and his equally beloved pet kitties, Pearly, Gracie, Fiona, and Mr. Lucky. In James’ honor, please consider making a donation to the Tri-County Humane Society.
A private burial service will be held at the St. Francis River Cemetery, Glendorado Township, MN. A public celebration of life is planned for the spring
Posted on: Dec 23, 2015 at 8:02 PM
Sandra Jean Fanyo was born in St. Cloud on December 15, 1946 to Wayne and Lucille Plachecki Fanyo. She was baptized at Salem Lutheran Church. She graduated from Tech High School in 1965 and from St. Cloud State College in 1969. Sandra spent her working career in Minneapolis and retired from a law firm in 2012. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Thomas Tucker. Sandra died at Sterling Park Healthcare in Waite Park on August 15, 2025. Private burial of the urn will be at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Watseka, IL.
Good luck on your next tour of duty, Gods speed as always.. Jack Strommen